Sun City West reports Echo Mesa irrigation ahead of schedule; TIFTUF sod and turf conversions planned
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Summary
Environmental services told the Sun City West Golf Committee that irrigation work on Echo Mesa holes 6–9 is complete and that TIFTUF sod and additional turf work are scheduled for July with a target of September recovery.
Environmental services updated the Sun City West Golf Committee on May 8 that the Echo Mesa irrigation project is progressing ahead of schedule and that several course renovation tasks are planned this summer.
Todd Paddy, environmental services presenter, told the committee Holes 6–9 at Echo Mesa have completed mainline and lateral irrigation installation, and those areas plus the chipping green, driving-range tee and driving-range floor are being watered with the new system. Paddy said the contractor was about one week ahead of schedule and that the current completion date is August 29.
Paddy described recent and planned maintenance and conversion work across courses: a Number 3 tee-box renovation that lowered the tee roughly 2½ to 3 feet to reduce wet, slippery conditions; a driving-range tee-leveling project using laser equipment with visible turf recovery within a week; and turf conversion work on Number 9 fairway where staff sprayed out old common Bermuda to prepare for TIFTUF.
On timing and quantities, Paddy said about 12,000 square feet of TIFTUF sod is planned for the green complex starting July 8; he said the following day crews will install sprigs on the fairway, but the transcript’s phrasing about the sprigbed area was unclear. He described multiple aerification and surface-prep steps and said staff expects the new turf to be in place and maturing into September.
Paddy also reported recovery of greens vandalized last year at Echo Mesa — roughly eight greens were affected — and that hand-germination tests indicate ryegrass will establish before reopening after overseeding. He summarized a recent U.S. Golf Association (USGA) site visit by Brian Whitlark that praised the course’s irrigation and equipment-replacement program, and recommended continuing the annual replacement program during the budget process.
Staffing was discussed: the USGA reviewer observed that Sun City West runs roughly 10–12 staff on golf courses, “at the low point” compared with regional peers. Paddy confirmed six open ground-crew positions at the time of the meeting and said summer turnover could increase vacancies. The committee discussed outsourcing some work to address shortages.
Paddy said the committee approved a change to the 2026 overseeding schedule: overseeding will start in October (not September) with a staggered closure pattern (three-week closure and one week on cart paths for the first four courses, then four weeks for the last three). He cautioned that tree decline among pines is continuing and that staff is planting replacement trees.
Next steps: staff will proceed with irrigation completion, turf installations, and overseeding schedule updates; staffing and outsourcing options will be evaluated.
